Responsibilities

Leah and Jenna have their first talk about some of the things Jen can expect to learn over the next couple of turns.

Jenna - Tuesday, April 30, 2002, 4:59 PM
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Your location's current time: 17:34 on day 11, month 2, Turn 40, of the Tenth Pass. It is a winter afternoon.

Leah comes through the wide archway to the east which leads to the bowl.
Leah has arrived.

Jenna is on her couch with Niyath, slathering oil on her. The gold looks up alertly at the archway, tail twitching out of her 'mate's grasp. Jenna patiently retrieves it, only to have it twitched away again.

Leah comes in all bundled up from being outside and walks quietly into the Barracks, pausing near Niyath's couch to see what Jenna is doing. The sight of the young gold and her twitchy tail brings a smile to the Weyrwoman's face, "Evening, Jenna. How are you and Niyath today?"

Jenna looks up at her name, and does remember to salute this time, a bit of oil flung off her hand towards her cot. "Evening, ma'am. She's well. Second oiling today - she's growing so fast and just always seems to be itchy." Oiled hands go back to her 'mate, soothing out a rough patch on her back. Niyath sits up a trifle straighter, eyes whirling an interested shade of blue as she watches the Weyrwoman.
Leah nods at that, "Indeed. And she will be for two full turns." A pleased smile is given to the young gold, "Ah yes, you are quite lovely. Already more attentive than my Jinieth." A snort comes from the large gold in the center of the room.

Niyath echoes the snort. Jenna peers at her in surprise. "Wh- oh." She blinks for a moment and then translates, "I think she appreciates the sentiment, ma'am, but, well, she doesn't really care for it, because everyone's been saying that." A pause and she argues lightly with her, "Well maybe they do so mean it, Niyath." Then, abashed, "Sorry ma'am. She... surprises me sometimes is all."

Leah smiles, shaking her head in amusement, "Of course we mean it. If so many people say something kind about someone, then it must be true." She looks closely at the Weyrling dragon a bit, "Not tired at all, is she? I was hoping to take you for a talk. And perhaps pry Jinieth out of here so she can actually eat something?" She shoots a glance at her own gold, who snorts again, but lifts her bulk up and takes the hint.

Jinieth steps out through the cavern's arch into the open space of the bowl.
Jinieth has left.

Niyath's tail twitches eagerly. Serious Matters. She stis up, craning her neck to her 'mate. Jenna hesitates, looking at the head turned to hers, "She's serious about wanting to hear too ma'am. Maybe we could go watch Jinieth hunt? It's not too far for her to walk, is it?"

Leah shakes her head, "No... but I was hoping to talk to you in private. Really, Niyath will get bored..." She looks at the young gold dubiously, then suggests, "How about we use my Weyr? It's just up a set of stairs that I think Niyath should be able to navigate."

Jenna nods, "She's already much too big to be carried, so she shouldn't have too much trouble." Then she grins at Niyath, "Um, lifts in the rock, leading up - well, yes, this is her Weyr, but her /weyr/ is where she - it'll be easier to show you, Niyath." She colors a bit, looking to Leah.

Leah laughs and says to Jenna, "Get your coat and boots and we'll go over there. It's cold today!"

Jenna hops up and rummages in her press, getting her coat and stamping feet into boots. She winds a scarf about her neck as Niyath stretches her way off her couch. "Ready - yes, I'll take the oil. Just the small pot, your big itches are done. And no, you don't need to take food with you. We're not going that far." Her tone is fond.

Leah leans in to say to Jenna, "I've got oil in my weyr, you know." She winks, heading for the opening to the bowl.

Jenna grins and notes, "That just might set off all sorts of more questions though." Niyath follows eagerly, tail swinging.

Leah steps out through the cavern's arch into the open space of the bowl.
Leah has left.

You step out through the cavern's arch into the open space of the bowl.
Fort Weyr Bowl, by the weyrling barracks
The Bowl of Fort Weyr, a large, nearly featureless plain surrounded by steep mountain cliffs, stretches out before you. It is vaguely oval in shape, long from the southwest to the northeast; you are standing near the wall northwest of its center. To the west is a cavern, carved into the cliffside, where newly-Impressed dragonriders live with their young dragons before they have been fully trained. When they join a regular fighting Wing, the young riders are ready to inhabit weyrs of their own.
To the south is the fenced off area where the Weyr's herds are kept. Along the north rim of the bowl, to the east of here, are the junior queens and weyrleaders weyrs, and the entrance to the Hatching ground. The center of the bowl, off which is the entrance to the large living caverns, stretches out to the southeast.
Contents:
Leah
Toranth(#875OQVaeps)
Alirath(#909JOaelps)

From the Feeding Grounds, Jinieth comes in from near the Weyrling barracks.

Leah watches Jinieth a moment as the gold dam flies over and lands on a fat doe. It seems the Weyrwoman just wants to reassure herself that her gold is eating, for once it's begun, she moves on.

Leah begins the half-mile trip southeast, towards the center of the bowl.
Leah has left.

You head southeast, towards the center of the bowl, covering over a half-mile.

Weyrwoman's Ledge(#12942RJLh)
This ledge is large enough for any gold who lives here and any visitors she may ever have. It's right off the low landing that leads to the Council Chambers, the Guest Weyr, and what would be a Weyrleader's Weyr. To the right as one passes the entrance there's a huge couch for Jinieth. It's got various furs and pillows on it, more for the Weyrwoman's use when she's sleeping with her dragon, it seems. To the left are a number of pegs each with a set of riding straps hanging from them. A cabinet lies just beyond this where dragon care items are stored, the doors emblazoned with the symbol of Fort Weyr. Past everything is a set of curtains, thick brown wool for the first layer, thinner black wool for the second, and the third is a filmy layer of white for privacy with air circulation during the breezy summer days.
Contents:
Leah
Orenth
Elisel

Jenna is clearly worried about the stairs, though Niyath manages it with a bare minimum of fuss. The only thing awkward is the wings, and one is extended while the other is folded. Niyath seems to find the whole thing rather novel, eyes looking everywhere and obviously eager.

Leah considers the Weyr for a moment, then says, "Stay here. I'll bring some chairs out for us." She disappears behind the curtains, reappearing a moment later struggling with two of her dining chairs. A pair of quilts are draped across her shoulders.

Jenna looks around rather curiously herself, and when Leah returns, what can be seen of the weyr's newest goldrider and her lifemate are peering nosily into the council chambers. As the sounds of struggle are heard behind her, Jenna bounces to assist, blushing a trifle. "Here, let me help?" Niyath isn't as abashed as her 'mate, and settles comfortably on the ledge, looking out at the rest of the weyr, as though testing out the view.

Leah grins at Jenna, offering one of the chairs, "Thank you. I'd just sit on the couch, but I'm sure Jinieth will be back after she eats. She's fond of a good nap when her stomach is full." She sets her own chair down and offers Jenna one of the quilts, "It's warmer in the Living Quarters, but not really meant for dragon talons." A nod in the direction of the curtains.

Jenna takes the chair and quilt also, trying not to notice Niyath playing at being Lady of the Weyr. "I guess that doesn't change as they get older then. Niyath's the same. Get her tummy full and she goes out like a dead glow not long after." She curls into the chair, wrapping the quilt around her shoulders and trying not to look nervous.

Leah waves a dismissive hand, "Metabolism. Even humans get sleepy after they eat their fill." She grins at Niyath's position, "We can see the goings on in the bowl and keep an eye on things from down here, but the view up higher is much more worthy of attention."

Jenna sinks a bit in her chair "Nia, love, when Jinieth comes back, you'll have to make sure she can get to her couch easily." Niyath looks back at Jenna as if to soothe her, and goes back to watching the bowl, tailtip twitching lightly. Jenna turns to Leah, "Do you need her to move now? She, ah, wants to make sure she knows what it looks like."

Leah says with a patient smile to Jenna, "You know, Jinieth can talk to her. I'm sure they've been holding long conversations that neither you and I know about already." She wraps sits on the chair and wraps the quilt around her lap and legs, "Besides, Niyath will tell you anything interesting that happens and you can tell me. Though again, Jinieth is sure to tell me as well."

Jenna evidently hadn't thought of that exactly. "Oh. I... oh." She sinks a bit lower in her chair. "This is just all so different than I ever imagined."

Leah ahs and nods, "So it is. You'll learn, though." She pulls off her gloves and tucks a stray lock of blonde hair behind one ear, "So, I think you have questions for me and I definately have things to talk to you about. You tell me if Niyath gets hungry and I'll let you two go back to the Barracks, alright?"

Jenna nods. "Yes ma'am." She pauses and then says, "I guess, my biggest question is - well, it's too big to be just a question. It's 'what now' 'how do I do all this' and 'what do I do' all rolled into one."

Leah nods at that, "First thing you do is take a deep breath and accept that you now are responsible for the life of another being. Eventually she'll be able to do some things herself, like hunt and swim. She'll always need to be oiled, but every few days instead of every few hours. And she'll need a good scrubbing a few times a week. Also understand that while we live and breathe for our dragons and they for us, they have an entire social structure that has nothing to do with humans. They have their own lives and their own friends."

Jenna nods. "She gets on better with Randoth and Taisoth than she does with Saneth. I think she worries Saneth." A pause and then she amends with a smile, "Then again, everything worries Saneth. - I'm settling in to caring for her, but, to be honest ma'am? It wasn't until we were falling asleep after the feast that J'nas really reminded me that she's gold. It's that part of things that I have no idea what to do. Managing a runner station, sure, but that's nothing like being a weyrwoman."

Niyath looks over her shoulder, clearly keeping tabs on the conversation even while enjoying the view. She looks up towards the starstones, straining to see down towards the feeding grounds and back to the barracks.

Leah chuckles and nods, "Jinieth's favorite thing is sitting in a pile in the bowl between Orenth and Aisheth and listening to the 'boys' bicker over her. Quite amusing, really." She smiles fondly, "The thing is about having a gold... it's different than anyone else's dragon. They seem to come with a wisdom of leadership that we, as humans, have to work to achieve. They can teach us so much while at the same time, seem like the biggest babies in the Weyr. A gold requires more attention to detail, more coddling, and more praise. A fighting dragon who chews firestone seems to just have a less selfish grasp on his rider's time." She waves a hand and sighs, "On the other hand, they don't have to spend four hours three times a week oiling their dragons either. Sharding big girls that they are!"

Jenna grins a bit at that. "Can't I draft help when she's full grown? She's completely unselfconscious about other people touching her, at least now. Not like Saneth. She definately likes to be completely aware of what I'm doing and thinking and explain everything to her."

Leah thinks about it, "That will totally depend on her. Jinieth says that I'm the only one who knows exactly how to oil her right. When I was pregnant with Mylea, I had to enlist help and then I had to stay there the entire time and supervise or else Jinieth just shoved them out of the way. Three days after I gave birth, I had to get up and oil my dragon."

Jenna nods slowly. "Niyath comes first. That I know already. Nothing else is as important. I mean, I still love Jeny and Zak, and Lu and R - the Harper are still /there/, but it's just not the same as it is with her. It's like, there's a dark room, and she's the only one with the glows on her. Everyone else is kind of in shadows." She pauses then and says, "Oh... now that's not something I'd thought about either. Master Rodric can no more carry on with a queenrider at Fort than he could with a nobody runner. Would've been much easier as a nobody runner, actually. Then he couldn't be accused of bias." She shakes her head, beginning to look a bit overwhelmed again. "So much has changed and so quickly too."

Leah snorts at that, "Master Rodric carried on with a goldrider at Fort a few times before that goldrider got Weyrmated." She rolls her eyes and feigns innocence, "You couldn't be mated or married to him, but indeed, you can play from time to time with that handsome Masterharper. Oh yes." A hand goes up as she says with authority, "After you and Niyath graduate Weyrling training."

Jenna doesn't look as convinced, eyes fleeing to Niyath for a moment. The young queen is absorbed in watching the barracks from this distance. She says only, "Yes, ma'am. There's just so much to learn. Will I ever get it all down? Did... did you feel like this when you first impressed? Kind of like you're in a dark tunnel with just one little glowbasket, and the tunnelsnake man is hovering in the dark?" Her lips quirk up a bit on this last, dragging in a story that the candidates were fond of. Niyath looks over at this last, visably perking. If it's a story, she wants in on it.

Leah chews on her bottom lip thoughtfully, then shakes her head, "No, I felt like Jinieth was the only person on my side and clung to her during Weyrling training. But then again, I had a rough time with my fellow Weyrlings and only had a few good friends in that class." She sighs, then dismisses the rough memories and smiles brightly, "So, do you want to know what you'll be learning over the next few turns?"

Jenna nods, sitting up a bit straighter, looking for a moment oddly like her lifemate. "Yes, please! It'll make that glow I'm carrying a bit stronger." Her tone is stronger, more businesslike.

Leah grins, tucking the quilt around her, "Well, with the other Weyrlings you'll learn drills and dragon care and how to fly and go *between*. All the typical Weyrling things. You will learn how to treat the most obnoxious, horrid Lord Holder like the sun rises and sets on his every word. You'll learn how to judge a rider's health by the color of his dragon. You'll learn to walk into the stores and know what's missing. Oh, and Norri and her assistants will become your best friends." A laugh escapes the petite goldrider's lips.

Jenna's eyes keep flickering back to Niyath as the list gets longer and seemingly more fantastic. Whatever she sees, and whatever passes between the pair squares her shoulders. She even finds the courage to ask, "What about drgonhealing, ma'am? The Weyrleader mentioned it the other day."

Leah ahs and nods, "P'ter and I have both stood in the shoes of the Senior Dragonhealer before and I think he's anxious to get someone into that position full time. You will learn Dragonhealing to the extent of a Capable Dragonhealer. This is because you will take a turn on ground crew every few Threadfalls and lead the ground crew and the Dragonhealers instead of flying Fall. And with your gold, you will be able to help the Dragonhealers by helping control the injured dragons. Something else you'll just learn instinctively is to understand what every shade of a dragon's color indicates. Sometimes it's the dragon being ill, hungry, tired, or sometimes they're proddy or their rider is exhausted. Human emotions rub off on their dragons sometimes in an alarming fashion, and vice versa."

Jenna nods slowly, "That's why no drinking and no sex. The babies don't understand it, and we can't control how they feel it, right?"

Leah nods, "Right. I mean, think of a child under seven having sex with someone? That's how your dragon will feel. It'd be disgusting."

Jenna grimaces and nods. "Proddy - Will I learn about what to do when she clutches?" It's a silly question, but it seems important.

Leah laughs and nods, "Indeed you will. And you'll have at least half a dozen goldriders to help you out, including myself."

Jenna nods, looking a trifle relieved. "She'll know how to care for them herself, won't she? Instinct and all?"

Leah cocks her head to the side at that one, "I think that Jinieth had an ongoing discussion with Rialeth for her first clutch. They help each other as well as use their own instincts. Jinieth buried her eggs where Rialeth did not."

Jenna nods again. "Right. Niyath has people that she can ask for advice." Nevermind they aren't exactly people. "Just like I do. I just don't want to make a fool out of myself." A pause and she adds, "And I bet using a flamethrower in the air is really different to on the ground. Will Nor - the Weyrlingmaster work with me for that? Or should I talk to you and the other queenriders?"

Leah says "Both." She gets up and goes to a cabinet against the wall, taking a moment to unlock it and saying by way of explanation, "I have a seven turn old. We keep everything dangerous out of reach or locked up." Swinging the door open, she drags out the flamethrower that's obviously been made for her, along with a separate tank, "This is what you will be working with."

Jenna gets up, coiling the quilt on the chair. "Wand's a bit longer than ground crew too, isn't it." Sharp eyes pick out the differences, and Niyath stretches her way up and comes to investigate as well. "I'll need to service it and everything, I assume?"

Leah nods, "Yep, longer to aim around your dragon and not hurt her, plus you can aim farther in the air than on the ground, so you can hit the Thread from a distance. And yes, it's up to you to care for your equipment."

Jenna grins a bit, "This is the kinda exciting part." Niyath obviously agrees, inspecting the tank and assembly. "Do we have the same formations as the other wings?"

Leah shakes her head, "We have a tighter formation, and we have to keep an eye on the dragons above us as well as the Thread that gets through. Flamethrowers aren't dragons, so we can put them aside if we need to care for someone who is injured. It's nice to be able to watch the Weyrlings and make sure they're safe, to be low in case a dragon has wing injuries or, in the worst injury case, a rider falls off."

Jenna is puzzled for a moment, and then looks to Niyath. Then her expression clears. "Oh! You mean, we can catch them? I wouldn't have thought of that." A pause and then, "So will I practice formations with them, or with the queen's wing?"

Leah packs up the equipment and puts it back into the cabinet, "Both. First with your fellow Weyrlings, later with us. And you'll shadow the person in charge of both the ground crew inside the Weyr and the one at whatever area we're fighting Thread over on a given day. You need to know what to do and they need to know who you are."

Jenna nods. "Kind of a liasion with the holders? That makes sense." She grins a bit, "Good thing I already know how to read fall charts." She decides, one hand dropping to Niyath's hide, "It's not as overwhelming as it seems when you sit back and take a good hard look at it."

Leah considers thoughtfully as she secures the lock on the cabinet and double checks it, "It's more than that during Threadfall. You're a translator as to what is happening above and what needs to be done below." She smiles and walks back to her chair, leaning on the back, "You just take it like you take everything, one day at a time."

Jenna nods. "That I can do." She grins a bit, "Taking care of the weyr in general, does that mean I can take care of you and Milque too? Purely selfish reasons of course. Niyath likes the view and all, but I'm definately not eager for this to have to be my weyr." Her tone is considerably lighter on this last, much of the rough edges of anxiety soothed away.

Leah blinks at that, "I... I'm not sure what you're asking?"

Jenna's chin lifts a bit. "Well, that I'm here to help you too, you know. It goes both ways. I'm going to be a frightful nuisance until I get the hang of things, and I'll try not to cause too much problems, but I'm here for you to lean on too." Niyath gives an affirmative warble and Jenna grins. "Same for her, though I think she already told Jinieth that."

Leah ahs at that, "I see." She considers the girl for a moment, "Are you also worried about something happening to me or Milque that would require you to step up to Senior Weyrwoman immediately?"

Jenna says stoutly, "It better not. I'll toss that knot at Vivian faster than you could blink. I don't know enough yet. So, if I get a little pushy, just bap me on the nose like a spit canine or something."

Leah chuckles and nods, "Don't you worry, we're here for you and we'll be ready when you're here for us, too."

Jenna grins, the first truely honest one she's had since this seriousness started. "Yes ma'am." And Niyath headbutts her gently in the chest. "Oh! Niyath, love, I'm sorry, yes, we can eat now." She puts a hand over her stomach, "Do you mind, ma'am? It's definately that time again."

Leah shakes her head, "I don't mind at all. You go right ahead and care for your dragon."

Jenna nods, as Niyath is already turning for the stairs. "Yes ma'am - yes, love, I'm right behind you," she hurries after the weyrling dragon, fussing mildly about the steps and, "No, you most certainly cannot just jump down from here."